Ireland Degges
RTX has received a $117.5 million U.S. Army award for the low-rate initial production of advanced targeting sensor systems.
Under the contract, RTX will provide 3rd Generation Forward Looking Infrared B-kit sensors for use in multiple Army combat platforms, RTX announced from McKinney, Texas on Wednesday.
“This technology supports the U.S. Army’s modernization effort to ensure the force is ready to address near-peer competitors,” commented Torrey Cady, vice president of electro-optical & infrared solutions at Raytheon, an RTX company.
“Our technological advancements in the sensors reduce latency and give military forces a critical battlefield edge by exceeding overall performance of prior generation systems,” he added.
The platform agnostic 3GEN FLIR B-Kit is designed to create a common operating picture for future combat ground vehicles and deliver standoff for target detection, recognition and identification. It leverages RTX’s dual-band infrared system to provide high-resolution imagery to commanders so they are able to see at night and in difficult battlefield and weather conditions over long distances. These capabilities are expected to help strengthen mission planning and execution.
Once delivered, these sensors will be used with the Abrams Main Battle Tanks and will include an option for optionally manned fighting vehicles. McKinney, Texas will be the primary performance location.
Over the past two decades, the defense company has provided over 25,000 second-generation FLIP sensors to the Army, a process that informed the development and production of the 3GEN FLIR sensors.
The new sensors align with the Army’s goals of cost-effectiveness and sustainability, an accomplishment that was driven through a coordinated public-private partnership.
Just weeks before this contract win, RTX won a $118 million award also from the Army. Under the earlier contract, the company will update a common sensor payload for MQ-IC Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft systems.
